“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1)
There are three kinds of praise representing three stages in the “Praise Life.”
First, there is praise for blessings received. This is thanksgiving. Only one leper out of ten who were healed returned to give thanks. Do we return to give thanks for one blessing in ten?
The second kind of praise is praise for blessings expected. This is faith. Often the blessings never come until we believe God sufficiently to praise Him in advance. We never praise in vain, for our praises soon become objective in real and tangible blessings.
A third kind of praise is praise to God Himself. This is worship. It has no reference to blessings, either received or expected. It rises above our needs and our experiences and is taken up entirely with the present character of the glorious Lord.
There are many who know thanksgiving who do not know the praise of faith. Of all those who know the praise of faith, there are but few who know extended moments of true worship.